At least seven people are confirmed dead and 51 injured in a "horrific" traffic accident in southwest England, Somerset police said on November 5.  

The accident involved 34 vehicles, including cars, vans and large trucks, police said, some of which erupted into a "fireball."

Assistant Chief Constable Anthony Bangham told reporters more bodies are feared to be still trapped in badly burnt vehicles.

Some of the vehicles are "burnt to the ground" and unrecognizable, he said in a televised news conference after visiting the site. "This is a horrific scene."

The crash occurred about 8:25 pm on November 4 on the M5 highway near Taunton in Somerset, about 70 kilometers (45 miles) southwest of Bristol, according to the Devon and Somerset Fire Rescue.

Bangham said poor weather was likely to have been a factor, with wet roads after rain and banks of fog reported in the area.

BBC/VOV